Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: H0675 – Broadband Definition Technical Corrections
Bill Summary
House Bill 675 amends Section 40-517 of Idaho Code to make minor technical corrections to broadband-related definitions. The bill updates the definition of “broadband” by replacing “allowing” with “capable of providing” and adding “services, such as” before “internet access” to clarify that broadband transmissions can provide high-speed services including internet access at minimum speeds of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload.
The bill also makes two additional minor changes: it replaces “or” with “and” in the list of entities that can receive broadband infrastructure (changing “schools, or public institutions” to “schools, and public institutions”), and it corrects the capitalization of “Dig Once Policy” to “dig once policy” for consistency. These changes do not alter the substantive requirements or obligations under existing broadband law.
The bill includes an emergency clause making it effective July 1, 2026. The amendments are characterized as technical corrections that clarify existing language without changing the underlying policy framework governing broadband infrastructure deployment in highway rights-of-way.
Overall Assessment
This bill makes purely technical and grammatical corrections to Idaho’s broadband infrastructure definitions without changing any substantive policy. The amendments clarify that broadband is “capable of providing” rather than “allowing” high-speed services, change a conjunction from “or” to “and” in a list of institutions, and correct capitalization. These changes do not affect any stakeholder groups, create new requirements, or alter existing obligations under Idaho broadband law.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (0)
The bill makes grammatical corrections to broadband definitions, changing "allowing" to "capable of providing" and "or" to "and" in Section 40-517. These technical amendments do not affect government spending, taxation, fiscal policy, or regulatory burdens. The changes clarify existing language without altering substantive requirements or creating new government obligations.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (0)
The amendments to broadband definitions in Section 40-517 do not address elections, voting procedures, citizen participation, or political processes. The technical corrections to terminology have no connection to how citizens engage with government or participate in democratic processes.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (0)
While the existing law mentions "schools" as recipients of broadband infrastructure, this language remains unchanged. The only modification in that subsection is replacing "or" with "and" before "public institutions," which is a grammatical correction that does not affect educational policy, funding, curriculum, or parental rights.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
The bill addresses telecommunications definitions and does not mention agriculture, farming, ranching, agricultural education, or rural economic concerns. The technical corrections to broadband terminology have no impact on agricultural operations or policies.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
The amendments to Section 40-517 concern broadband infrastructure definitions and do not address water rights, water appropriation, inter-basin transfers, or any water management policies. The changes have no connection to water resource issues.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
The bill makes technical corrections to telecommunications definitions without addressing environmental policy, natural resource management, federal lands, wilderness areas, or forest health. The changes do not affect environmental stewardship or resource utilization.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
The amendments clarify broadband service definitions but do not address energy policy, energy independence, hydroelectric power, nuclear energy, petroleum, natural gas, or electrical rates. While broadband infrastructure may indirectly relate to energy systems, the technical corrections create no policy changes affecting energy matters.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
The bill concerns broadband telecommunications definitions and does not address the Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, energy research and development, or technology transfer. The changes have no connection to INL operations or policies.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
While broadband infrastructure involves highway rights-of-way mentioned in existing law, the bill's technical corrections do not alter property rights, takings, eminent domain, or regulatory requirements affecting private property. The grammatical changes do not affect how property owners interact with broadband infrastructure deployment.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
The bill addresses broadband infrastructure definitions without addressing federal land management, state land administration, or reduction of federal land ownership. The technical corrections have no impact on land management policies or sovereignty issues.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
The amendments to broadband definitions do not address fish and game management, hunting, fishing, wildlife, predator control, or habitat issues. The changes have no connection to wildlife management policies or practices.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
While broadband infrastructure relates to economic development, the bill's changes are purely grammatical clarifications. Replacing "allowing" with "capable of providing" and changing "or" to "and" does not create new economic policies, alter regulatory frameworks, or affect commerce, small business, labor, or transportation policy.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
The bill amends telecommunications definitions without addressing healthcare delivery, health insurance, patient rights, medical decisions, or welfare programs. The technical corrections have no connection to health and welfare policies or private enterprise in healthcare.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
The technical corrections to broadband definitions in Section 40-517 do not address family values, marriage, right to life, parental authority, children's welfare, or abortion. The changes have no impact on family-related policies or social issues.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
The amendments to broadband terminology do not address policies or programs related to older Americans, retirement, senior services, or work penalties. The technical corrections have no connection to issues affecting older citizens.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (0)
The bill concerns telecommunications infrastructure definitions and does not address gun rights, criminal justice, drug policy, incarceration, juvenile justice, or state sovereignty regarding immigration. The technical corrections have no impact on law enforcement or criminal justice matters.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
The amendments to broadband definitions do not address military matters, veterans, national defense, border security, the National Guard, or non-interventionism. The changes have no connection to defense or border security policies.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
The bill makes technical corrections to telecommunications definitions without addressing judicial elections, judicial selection, constitutional interpretation, or legal philosophy. The changes have no impact on the judiciary or judicial selection processes.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
The amendments to Section 40-517 concern broadband infrastructure definitions and do not address religious freedom, free exercise of religion, conscience clauses, or government interference in religious practices. The technical corrections have no connection to religious liberty issues.